Following layoff, Red King tries shorter distance

Beginning with a third-place finish in the Grade 3 San Juan Capistrano Stakes at about 1 3/4 miles last June and continuing through a third in an allowance race with a $40,000 claiming option at 1 1/4 miles in February, Red King ran exclusively in distance races on turf for six starts.

Sunday at Santa Anita, Red King will start at a mile on turf for the first time in more than 15 months in an optional claimer.

While Red King has run very well at longer distances, trainer Phil D’Amato said Friday the 6-year-old horse should not be dismissed on Sunday in his first start since Feb. 23.

“I think if everything goes well, he can win that sort of race,” D’Amato said. “He is going to be coming into the race fresh, not having run in a couple of months.”

The layoff was not intended. D’Amato said he was planning a late March or early April race for Red King when racing was interrupted at Santa Anita because of the coronavirus outbreak. Officials with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health ordered a stop to racing in late March and announced earlier this month the track could resume. Racing has been held since May 15.

Red King is part of a field of eight in the sixth race. The optional claimer drew 17 entries, leading track officials to divide the race. The second division is the eighth race.

First post time on the ninerace program is 12:30 p.m.

Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

Red King drew post 2 in a competitive group that includes Fivestar Lynch, winner of a $62,500 claimer for maidens at a mile on turf Feb. 8; Avalanche, a closer entered to be claimed for $40,000; and Go Daddy Go, who won a maiden special weight race at a mile on turf in January.

Fivestar Lynch, 4, was gelded in October and has since finished second twice and won the maiden race.

“I think he’s more forward now,” trainer Richard Baltas said.

Fivestar Lynch drew the rail. In the eighth race, Baltas starts Madman, who also drew the rail for his first start since a nose loss against a similar field at a mile on Jan. 25.

“Madman is fresh,” Baltas said. “He’s a horse that has always had a lot of talent. I think he’s well spotted.”

Mike Smith rides Madman for the first time Sunday in the 4-year-old gelding’s fourth start. Smith is likely to have Madman in a stalking position in a field of nine.

Cajun Treasure, unraced since July, will start as a gelding for the first time Sunday in the eighth race. Trained by Peter Eurton, Cajun Treasure ran well on turf at Santa Anita in early 2019.

This will be the first start in California since July for Irish Heatwave, a closer who won the Silky Sullivan Stakes for statebred milers at Golden Gate Fields in April 2019.